Justice News

McLaughlin Man Sentenced For Assault By Striking, Beating And Wounding

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Striking, Beating and Wounding was sentenced on May 29, 2014, by U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes.

Lemar Chasing Hawk, age 53, was sentenced to 10 months in custody and a $25 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Chasing Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 21, 2013. He pled guilty to a Superseding Information on April 17, 2014.

The conviction stems from an incident occurring on June 19, 2013, when a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer was notified that an adult female victim needed assistance. Upon his arrival, the officer made contact with the victim who was at a neighbor’s house and learned that Chasing Hawk had come over to the house, attempted to grab the victim by her hair, pulled her out the back door, and took her back to his apartment next door. Chasing Hawk struck the victim on the back of the head as he was reaching for her to drag her out of the apartment. At the time of the assault, Chasing Hawk and the victim were in an intimate relationship.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affair, Standing Rock Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.

Chasing Hawk was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.